That Was Then...
Over the last few months as Robert and I have been developing the new site, we've both taken the time to reflect on where we came from and how hired-gun.com has matured. (Something had to because neither of us has).

The first version of hired-gun.com was built in the back half of 1998 using what was at the time some of the most up-to-date technology available. 

Version 1.0

Over the years, Hired Gun has evolved both visually and technically. Version two, (as short lived as it was), added more database technology and introduced us to the very first beginnings of dynamic content management.

Version 2.0

A few short months later we launched Version 3 with our first real shopping cart, Streaming Video, Macromedia Flash animations, and a number of database enabled tools to manage the site.

Version 3.0

So now here we are in a new millennium, with the fourth version of the site, again using some of the most advanced tools available for web development. Version 4.0 of Hired Gun is far more then a new look. Granted it is the first time we haven't built an all black site, but there is far more under the hood then meets the eye.

This latest version of HG is almost fully database enabled, almost all the content and the product catalog are all database driven. The simple product catalog from a few years ago has grown into a fully XML compatable ECommerce solutiuon that can handle thousands of products, track orders, and is integration certified with most major payment gateways such as Authorize.Net and Verisign.

Looking back at our humble beginnings tends to make me a bit nostalgic. But looking at the old site and where we are now maybe emphasizes an important philosophy. You don't become or stay the best by doing the exact same things over and over again. In order to stay at the top of your game you need to learn to adapt and overcome.

But somehow it's just not the same without the Mission Impossible theme playing in the background. ;-)